Manual device for transferring a film from a carrier tape to a substrate

ABSTRACT

A hand-operated appliance ( 1 ) for transferring a film from a carrier tape ( 7 ) to a substrate is proposed, this having a casing ( 2 ), an interchangeable cassette ( 3 ) which can be inserted in the casing ( 2 ), a supply spool ( 4 ) for a carrier tape ( 7 ) coated with a film and a wind-up spool ( 5 ) for taking up the carrier tape ( 7 ) separated from the film, both spools being held in the interchangeable cassette ( 3 ), an applicator device ( 6 ) which deflects the carrier tape ( 7 ), projects out of the casing ( 2 ) and presents the side of the carrier tape ( 7 ) which is coated with the film to the substrate, and a drive connection ( 8 ) provided with a slip coupling ( 9 ) between the supply spool ( 4 ) and the wind-up spool ( 5 ) which, as the supply spool ( 4 ) is driven by drawing off the carrier tape ( 7 ), drives the wind-up spool ( 5 ) at a rotational speed which is such that the carrier tape ( 7 ) always remains tensioned. In order to enable the spools ( 4, 5 ) to be easily replaced, while being easy and inexpensive to produce, the hand-operated appliance according to the invention is characterised in that the applicator device ( 6 ) consists of an applicator strip ( 10 ) located on the casing ( 2 ) and of a tape guide device ( 11 ) located on the interchangeable cassette ( 3 ) for the carrier tape ( 7 ), wherein the tape guide device ( 11 ) is formed such that it holds a part of the carrier tape ( 7 ) ready as a loop into which the applicator strip ( 10 ) enters when the interchangeable cassette ( 3 ) is loaded into the casing ( 2 ).

The invention relates to a hand-operated appliance for transferring afilm from a carrier tape to a substrate according to the preamble ofclaim 1.

Hand-operated appliances of the above-mentioned type are primarily usedin offices to apply a coloured, opaque or adhesive film from a carriertape to a substrate such as paper, for example. Hand-operated appliancesof this kind enable the user to apply the film very neatly and to alocalised point.

DE 36 44 946 C2 discloses a hand-operated appliance for applying anadhesive film to a substrate. The hand-operated appliance consists of acasing containing a supply spool for a carrier tape coated with anadhesive film, a wind-up spool for taking up the carrier tape separatedfrom the adhesive film, a tape guide device and an applicator devicewhich deflects the carrier tape, can spring elastically outwards,projects out of the casing and presents the side of the carrier tapewhich is coated with the adhesive film to the substrate. A driveconnection provided with a slip coupling is disposed between the supplyspool and the wind-up spool and, as the supply spool is driven bydrawing off the carrier tape, drives the wind-up spool at a rotationalspeed which is such that the carrier tape always remains tensioned. Inorder to simplify the entire refilling handling process for the userwhen changing the tape, the supply spool and the wind-up spool, as wellas the applicator device and the tape guide device, are accommodated inan interchangeable cassette. In addition, the drive connection, which isprovided entirely within the casing, comprises a so-called input and aso-called output driving pin for mounting the two spools, so that theinterchangeable cassette can be positioned accurately in the casing.

The spool changing operation is simplified even further for the user inDE 37 36 357 C2. In the region of the applicator device an additionalsupport-centring pin at the casing and a corresponding holding fixtureat the interchangeable cassette ensure that the latter is correctlypositioned, and a holder is also provided as a positive locking elementto prevent the interchangeable cassette from turning about thesupport-centring pin.

The applicants' German patent application DE 42 20 712 C2 discloses ahand-operated appliance of a particularly simple and small design. Thehand-operated appliance for transferring a film from a carrier tape to asubstrate, with a casing, in which a supply spool and a wind-up spoolfor the carrier tape are rotatably mounted, and an applicator devicedisposed at the casing, is distinguished by a special type of driveconnection between the spools. The drive connection with a slip couplingis formed as a friction drive directly between the two spools.

Starting out from the above prior art, the object of the invention is toprovide a hand-operated appliance of the type initially mentioned whichenables the spools to be easily replaced while being easy andinexpensive to produce.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The interchangeablecassette can easily be loaded and the carrier tape tensioned on accountof the two-part construction of the applicator device, with theapplicator strip being located on the casing and the tape guide deviceon the interchangeable cassette, and the tape guide device being formedsuch that it holds a part of the carrier tape ready as a loop into whichthe applicator strip enters when the interchangeable cassette is loadedinto the casing. As the interchangeable cassette is formed in arelatively simple manner on account of the construction according to theinvention, it can accordingly be produced easily and inexpensively.

In a development of the invention locking means with seats are providedin the casing of the hand-operated appliance which, when theinterchangeable cassette is loaded, secure it in a first position inwhich the tape guide device protrudes with respect to the applicatorstrip, so that the applicator strip enters into the loop of the carriertape, and which, after the interchangeable cassete has been pushed back,secure it in an end position in which the tape guide device is pushedback with respect to the applicator strip, so that the carrier tape ofthe loop runs over the applicator strip.

Further configurations and developments are the subject of subsequentclaims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in detail in thefollowing on the basis of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hand-operated appliance according to theinvention with the second casing half having been removed;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the hand-operated appliance of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the interchangeable cassette of thehand-operated appliance of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first casing part of the hand-operatedappliance of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the second casing half of the hand-operatedappliance of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows the first casing half of FIG. 1 in a view A from FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows the first casing half of FIG. 6 with the interchangeablecassette in a first position; and

FIG. 8 shows the first casing half of FIG. 6 with the interchangeablecassette in a second position.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of a hand-operated applianceaccording to the invention when ready for use, i.e. Wilt an insertedinterchangeable cassette, while FIGS. 3 to 6 each show the individualcomponents of the hand-operated appliance according to the inventionwhich is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The process of loading theinterchangeable cassette into the casing is illustrated in detail on thebasis of FIGS. 7 and 8.

The main components of the hand-operated appliance 1 are a casing 2 of amanageable size, an interchangeable cassette 3, a supply spool 4, whichis rotatably mounted in the interchangeable cassette 3, a wind-up spool5, which is rotatably mounted in the interchangeable cassette 3, anapplicator device 6, which projects out of the casing 2 and consists ofan applicator strip 10 and a tape guide device 11, a carrier tape 7 anda drive connection 8, which is disposed between the spools 4, 5 and hasan integrated slip coupling 9. All the parts of the hand-operatedappliance 1 which have been described above and are yet to be describedpreferably consist of a plastics material and—with the exception of thecarrier tape 7—may be produced by injection moulding.

In the side view according to FIG. 1 the casing 2 is in the shape of adrop, which may be rounded or polygonal. The horizontal width of thecasing 2 is relatively small, being approximately 20 to 25 mm.

The casing 2 consists of a first casing half 2 a and a second casinghalf 2 b, this not being included in FIG. 1, which can be fastened tothe first casing half by clamping and/or interlocking. The surroundingside wall 2 c of the casing 2 may be moulded both onto the first casinghalf 2 a and onto the second casing half 2 b; the illustrated embodimentshows the side wall 2 c on the second casing half 2 b. The bottom frontcorner of the casing 2 is provided with a through-opening 12, throughwhich the applicator device 6 projects out of the casing 2 when thehand-operated appliance 1 is closed. The through-opening 12 isdimensioned such that slits which form the delivery or feed opening forthe carrier tape 7 are provided between the underside and the top sideof the applicator device 6 and the side wall 2 c of the casing 2.

The carrier tape 7 is coated with a coloured, opaque or adhesivefilm—according to the purpose of the application. The carrier tape 7,which can be drawn off the supply spool 4, is guided around theapplicator device 6 and runs back into the casing 2 to the wind-up spool5. In order to apply the film to a substrate such as paper, for example,the applicator strip 10 of the applicator device 6 is pressed againstthe substrate, so that the film which is presented to the substrateadheres to the latter.

The supply spool 4 and the wind-up spool 5 are disposed in aninterchangeable cassette 3. The interchangeable cassette 3 issubstantially a plate which has a drop-shaped contour like the casing 2and which can be loaded or inserted into the first casing half 2 a. Forthe purpose of accurate positioning and as a loading aid for theinterchangeable cassette 3, a plurality of locking means 14 in the formof pins or studs are located on the first casing half 2 a, theseengaging in corresponding locking means 15 in the form of recesses oropenings in the plate 3. The locking means 14, 15 may be disposed at theedge of or within the plate 3. The loading operation and the specialform of the locking means 14, 15 are described in greater detail on thebasis of FIGS. 6 to 8.

A bearing sleeve 17 for the supply spool 4 and a bearing sleeve 18 forthe wind-up spool 5 are moulded onto the plate 3 along a line 16extending approximately through the centre of the casing 2 andapproximately parallel to the bottom edge of the latter. The outsidediameter of the bearing sleeves 17, 18 is in this case slightly smallerthan the respective hub parts 4 a, 5 a of the two corresponding spools4, 5, so that the spools 4, 5 are rotatably mounted on the stationarybearing sleeves 17, 18. In the embodiment described here the supplyspool 4 is disposed before the wind-up spool 5 in relation to theapplicator device 6.

The drive connection 8 and the slip coupling 9 between the two spools 4,5 correspond to the drive connection and the slip coupling disclosed inthe applicants' publication DE 42 20 712 C2. Lateral spool walls 4 b, 5b, between which the carrier tape 7 is wound or wound up, extend fromthe hub parts 4 a, 5 a of the spools 4, 5. The drive connection 8 andthe slip coupling 9 are formed by at least one pair of friction surfaces19, 20 which are directly in engagement with one another and which inthe present embodiment are formed at opposite inner and outer faces ofthe spool walls 4 b, 5 b. The sum of the distances d₁/2, d₂/2 of thefriction surfaces 19, 20 from the rotational axes of the respectivespools 4, 5 is greater than the centre distance a between the two spools4, 5, so that the friction surfaces 19, 20 of the spool walls 4 b, 5 boverlap. In this configuration the outer spacing of the spool walls 5 bof the wind-up spool 5 is adapted to the inner spacing of the spoolwalls 4 b of the supply spool 4, so that the wind-up spool 5 fits withits spool walls 5 b between the spool walls 4 b of the supply spool 4,as shown in the plan view of FIG. 2. In order nevertheless to guaranteethe lateral guidance of the carrier tape 7 on the supply spool 4, thesupply spool walls 4 b may be thickened inwards to the guide width inthe winding region.

When the rotational drive between the spools 4, 5 is based solely onfrictional action between preferably plane friction surfaces 19, 20, acompressive stress between the friction surfaces 19, 20 is required toproduce the friction. This can be achieved by slightly overdimensioningor underdimensioning the outer spacing between the wind-up spool walls 5b and the inner spacing between the supply spool walls 4 b, with theinitial stress being based on the elasticity of the material with whichassociated spool walls are pressed together. The two associated spoolwalls 4 b and 5 b are preferably provided with friction surfaces 19 and20 as described above, so that two friction surface pairs are present.

The drive connection 8 between the spools 4 and 5 must be designed suchthat, taking account of the winding diameters 21 and 22 effective at thetime, the wind-up spool 5 is driven at such a speed that the carriertape section to be wound up is always slightly tensioned. The slipcoupling 9 comes into operation above a certain driving torque active inthe drive connection 8, so that, although the wind-up spool 5 is drivenfaster, it only rotates at a speed which corresponds to the speed ofmovement of the carrier tape 7, so as to prevent the carrier tape 7 fromtearing.

The drive connection 8 must have a transmission ratio for driving thewind-up spool 5 faster, according to the spool base size. In thisembodiment this is achieved by making the average diameter d₁ of theannular friction surface 19 at the supply spool 4 greater than theaverage diameter d₂ of the annular friction surface 20 at the wind-upspool 5.

It is equally possible to create or replace the frictional actionbetween the spool walls 4 b, 5 b by elevations and depressions in theform of teeth with associated tooth spaces, the tooth engagement ofwhich can be bridged in order to form the slip coupling 9. Theapplicants' publication DE 42 20 712 C2 is referred to at this point fora more precise description of this alternative for the drive connection8.

As the drive connection 8 and the slip coupling 9 are formed as one partat the spools 4, 5, no additional parts are required. Moreover, the useof small and simple components permits a simple and inexpensiveproduction process. The arrangement of the two spools 4, 5 in aninterchangeable cassette 3 makes it easier for the user to change thespools, and, due to the construction of the drive connection 8 and theslip coupling 9 described above, the user does not need to ensure thatthe spools 4, 5 are properly arranged when carrying out a spool change,as these are located together with the drive connection 8 and the slipcoupling 9 in an exact position in relation to one another in theinterchangeable cassette 3.

As already mentioned above, in order to apply the film to a substrate,the carrier tape 7 is guided around the applicator device 6 whichprojects out of the casing 2 and is pressed against the substrate.According to the invention this applicator device 6 is of a two-partconstruction. It consists of a tape guide device 11 located on theinterchangeable cassette 3 and of an applicator strip 10 located on thefirst casing half 2 a.

The tape guide device 11 at the interchangeable cassette 3 consistssubstantially of two guides 11 a projecting out of the casing 2 andextending approximately parallel to one another and, at least in thefront region, parallel to the carrier tape 7. In their front region theguides 11 a each have two lateral boundary walls 11 b, between which thecarrier tape 7 is passed. The spacing between the lateral boundary walls11 b of a guide 11 a is slightly greater than the width of the carriertape 7. A clearance 11 c is provided between the two guides 11 a, whichclearance is bounded by a contact edge 11 d towards the plate 3 and isopen towards the front end. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the carrier tape 7is guided around the front ends of the two-guides 11 a in the form of aloop.

FIGS. 6-8 show the first casing half 2 a in a side view and in a view Afrom FIG. 6. The applicator strip 10 is preferably integral with thefirst casing half 2 a and in the form of a wedge 10 a in the frontregion. The tip of this preferably rigid wedge 10 a is advantageouslyrounded. The rear part of the applicator strip 10 is stepped withrespect to the horizontal width of the wedge 10 a and forms a seat 10 c.The applicator strip 10 leads downwards from this seat 10 c at the endin the form of a slope 10 d to the level of the plate 3. As shown inFIG. 4, a holding opening 10 b is provided in the applicator strip 10 inthe rear region 10 c, 10 d to accommodate a centering device 23 providedon the second casing half 2 b (FIG. 5).

The locking means 14 on the first casing half 2 a are also stepped in amanner similar to that of the applicator strip 10. As shown in FIG. 6,the locking means 14 also comprise a seat 14 a extending away from theapplicator strip 10 in the rear region and lying approximately at thesame level above the plate 3 as the seat 10 c of the applicator strip10. A slope 14 b is likewise provided at the rear end adjacent to theseat 14 a.

The loading of the interchangeable cassette 3 is described in thefollowing on the basis of both FIGS. 7 and 8. The interchangeablecassette 3 is firstly placed on the seats 10 c and 14 a of theapplicator strip 10 and the locking means 14. The contact edge 11 d ofthe tape guide device 11 and the contact edge 15 a of the opening arepositioned at the rear edges 10 e, 14 c of the front regions of theapplicator strip 10 and locking means 14. The rear edges 10 e, 14 c mayadvantageously be bevelled to make it easier to load the interchangeablecassette 3 into this first position.

As shown in FIG. 7, in this first position of the interchangeablecassette 3 the applicator strip 10 enters with its wedge 10 a into theloop of the carrier tape 7, which loop is guided tautly around the tapeguide device 11. The interchangeable cassette 3 is then pushed backuntil the contact edges 11 d and 15 a slide down over the slopes 10 dand 14 b and the plate 3 is lying on the casing half 2 a.

This end position is shown in FIG. 8. In this position the wedge 10 a ofthe applicator strip 10 projects through the two webs 11 a of the tapeguide device 11 out of the casing 2, while the carrier tape 7 is guidedtautly around the tip of the wedge 10 a. As before, the lateral boundarywalls 11 b at the webs 11 a of the tape guide device 11 guarantee thelateral position of the carrier tape 7.

The two-part applicator device 6 according to the invention which isdescribed above has the following advantage: When the interchangeablecassette 3 is loaded into the casing 2 the applicator strip 10 mouldedon the first casing half 2 a serves both as a holding and positioningdevice for the tape guide device 11 moulded on the interchangeablecassette 3 and to tension the carrier tape 7. This means that, apartfrom the applicator device 6, all that is required are the locking means14, which are formed relatively simply, on the casing 2, and theinterchangeable cassette 3 and carrier tape 7 can still be easilyinserted into the casing 2 so as to take up an accurate position. Just asimple tape guide device 11 is moulded onto the actual interchangeablecassette 3 instead of a complex applicator device 6 as in the case ofconventional hand-operated appliances. The interchangeable cassette 3can therefore be produced easily and inexpensively, while savingmaterials.

As shown in FIG. 5, for the purpose of securely holding the two spools4, 5 in the casing 2, the second casing half 2 b comprises two bearingsleeves or pins 24 and 25 for holding the bearing sleeves 17 and 18moulded onto the interchangeable cassette 3. The outside diameter of thebearing sleeves or pins 24, 25 corresponds approximately to the insidediameter of the bearing sleeves 17, 18, and a slight clamping action canpreferably be achieved.

In addition, a support ring 26 of a greater diameter than the bearingsleeve 24 is located concentrically with the latter on the second casinghalf 2 b. The diameter and the height of the support ring 26 aredetermined such that the spool wall 4 b of the supply spool 4 lies onthis support ring 26 in its inner region (within the friction surface19).

The second casing part 2 b also comprises a fastening device 27 abovethe through-opening 12 on the outer face of the side wall 2 c for aprotective cap (not shown). The protective cap can be turned down overthe applicator device 6 projecting out of the through-opening 12, sothat the applicator device 6 and the carrier tape 7 guided around thelatter are protected when the hand-operated appliance 1 is not in use.

Fluting 28 is also provided on the outer face of the side wall 2 c inthe region above the through-opening 12. The fluting 28 serves as a restfor the user's index finger, so that the hand-operated appliance 1 canbe reliably controlled by the user in the latter's hand.

In order to prevent looping of the carrier tape 7 if the hand-operatedappliance 1 is used incorrectly, a return stop (not shown) maypreferably be associated with the wind-up spool 5. The return stop maybe formed, for example, by a stop pawl gear, consisting of a toothedring which is disposed at the circumferential edge of one of the wind-upspool walls 5 b and which co-operates with a pawl arm. The pawl armextends approximately in a tangential direction to the toothed ring andis acted upon by a spring force towards the toothed ring such that thepawl arm runs over the toothed ring in the wind-up direction andprevents reverse rotation of the wind-up spool 5 in the oppositedirection of rotation by engaging with the toothed ring.

What is claimed is:
 1. Hand-operated appliance for transferring a filmfrom a carrier tape to a substrate, said appliance comprising: a casing;an interchangeable cassette configured for insertion into said casing; asupply spool for a carrier tape coated with a film and a wind-up spoolfor taking up the carrier tape separated from the film, said supplyspool and said wind-up spool being carried by said interchangeablecassette; an applicator device projecting out of the casing, deflectingthe carrier tape, and presenting the side of the carrier tape coatedwith the film to a substrate; and a drive connection positioned in saidinterchangeable cassette between said supply spool and said wind-upspool and driving said wind-up spool at a rotational speed sufficient tokeep the carrier tape tensioned as said supply spool is driven bydrawing off the carrier tape; wherein: said applicator device includesan applicator strip located on said casing and a tape guide devicelocated on said interchangeable cassette and formed to hold a part ofthe carrier tape ready as a loop into which said applicator strip enterswhen said interchangeable cassette is inserted into said casing; a seatis provided on said applicator strip configured to hold saidinterchangeable cassette in a first position in said casing from whichsaid interchangeable cassette is movable into an end position in saidcasing; in said first position said tape guide device protrudes withrespect to said applicator strip such that said applicator strip entersthe carrier tape loop; and in said end position said interchangeablecassette is pushed back from said applicator strip.
 2. Hand-operatedappliance according to claim 1, further comprising locking meansprovided in said casing and configured to secure said interchangeablecassette in said end position in which said tape guide device is pushedback with respect to said applicator strip such that the carrier tape ofthe loop runs over said applicator strip.
 3. Hand-operated applianceaccording to claim 2, wherein seats are formed on said locking meansconfigured to hold said interchangeable cassette in said first position.4. Hand-operated appliance according to claim 3, wherein said lockingmeans further comprise slopes configured to assist in loading saidinterchangeable cassette into said casing and into said end position. 5.Hand-operated appliance according to claim 3, wherein openings orrecesses in which said locking means of said casing engage are formed insaid interchangeable cassette.
 6. Hand-operated appliance according toclaim 2, wherein: said casing comprises a first casing half and a secondcasing half; a side wall of said casing is molded onto one of saidcasing halves; and said applicator strip and said locking means aremolded onto said first casing half.
 7. Hand-operated appliance accordingto claim 6, wherein said applicator strip is molded onto said casing asa rigid component.
 8. Hand-operated appliance according to claim 1,wherein said applicator strip further comprises slopes configured toassist in loading said interchangeable cassette into said casing andinto said end position.
 9. Hand-operated appliance according to claim 1,wherein said tape guide device comprises a clearance for accommodatingsaid applicator strip.
 10. Hand-operated appliance according to claim 1,wherein said interchangeable cassette is formed as a plate on which twobearing sleeves for said spools are molded.
 11. Hand-operated applianceaccording to claim 1, wherein: said drive connection includes a slipcoupling; and said drive connection and said slip coupling are formed bydirect friction contact between said spool bodies.
 12. A hand-operatedappliance for transferring a film from a carrier tape to a substrate,said appliance comprising: a casing including an applicator strip; andan interchangeable cassette including a supply spool carrying a carriertape coated with a film, a wind-up spool positioned and configured totake up the carrier tape separated from the film, a drive connectionbetween said supply spool and said wind-up spool and driving saidwind-up spool as said supply spool is driven by drawing off carriertape, and a tape guide device holding a part of the carrier tape readyas a loop; wherein at least one seat is formed in said casing configuredto hold said interchangeable cassette in a first position with respectto said casing such that said applicator strip enters the carrier tapeloop and from which said interchangeable cassette is movable into an endposition in said casing pushed back from said applicator strip with thetape loop taut around said applicator strip.
 13. Hand-operated applianceaccording to claim 12, wherein in said first position said tape guidedevice protrudes with respect to said applicator strip such that saidapplicator strip enters the carrier tape loop wherein saidinterchangeable cassette is placed on said at least one seat. 14.Hand-operated appliance according to claim 12, wherein said at least oneseat is shaped to guide said interchangeable cassette from said firstposition into said end position.
 15. Hand-operated appliance accordingto claim 14, wherein said at least one seat includes slopes configuredto assist in moving said interchangeable cassette from said firstposition to said end position.
 16. Hand-operated appliance according toclaim 12, wherein said casing further comprises locking means configuredto secure said interchangeable cassette in said end position. 17.Hand-operated appliance according to claim 16, wherein said at least oneseat is formed on said locking means.
 18. Hand-operated applianceaccording to claim 16, wherein said interchangeable cassette furthercomprises a plate carrying said supply spool and said wind-up spool andin which openings or recesses are formed positioned spaced apart fromsaid spools to engage with said locking means.
 19. Hand-operatedappliance according to claim 16, wherein: said casing further comprisesa first casing half and a second casing half; said locking means areprovided on said first casing half; first and second bearing sleevescorresponding, respectively, to said supply spool and said wind-up spoolare provided on said second casing half; and said first and secondcasing halves are joined together with said interchangeable cassette insaid end position to form a loaded hand-operated appliance, with saidfirst and second bearing sleeves on said second casing half respectivelyextending through said supply spool and said wind-up spool to hold saidinterchangeable cassette in said end position within said casing. 20.Hand-operated appliance according to claim 12, wherein said driveconnection is formed by a direct contact between said supply spool andsaid wind-up spool.
 21. Hand-operated appliance according to claim 20,wherein said drive connection further includes a slip coupling. 22.Hand-operated appliance according to claim 12, wherein: said casingfurther comprises a first casing half and a second casing half; saidapplicator strip and said at least one step are provided on said firstcasing half; first and second bearing sleeves corresponding,respectively, to said supply spool and said wind-up spool are providedon said second casing half; and said first and second casing halves arejoined together with said interchangeable cassette in said end positionto form a loaded hand-operated appliance, with said first and secondbearing sleeves on said second casing half respectively extendingthrough said supply spool and said wind-up spool to hold saidinterchangeable cassette in said end position within said casing.
 23. Amethod of loading an interchangeable cassette carrying a carrier tapecoated with a film into a casing, said interchangeable cassettecomprising a supply spool carrying the coated carrier tape, a wind-upspool rotatably coupled to said supply spool and positioned to take upthe carrier tape separated from the film, and a tape guide deviceholding a part of the coated carrier tape in a loop, and said casingcomprising an applicator strip and at least one seat configured to holdsaid interchangeable cassette in a first position, said methodcomprising: guiding said applicator strip into the tape loop; insertingsaid interchangeable cassette onto said at least one seat in saidcasing; and moving said interchangeable cassette off said at least oneseat and away from said applicator strip and into a loaded position insaid casing.
 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein moving saidinterchangeable cassette into said loaded position comprises moving saidinterchangeable cassette into engagement with said casing.
 25. A methodaccording to claim 23, wherein said casing comprises a first casing halfon which said applicator strip and said at least one seat are providedand a second casing half on which first and second bearing sleevescorresponding, respectively, to said supply spool and said wind-up spoolare provided, said method further comprising: inserting said first andsecond bearing sleeves into said supply spool and said wind-up spool,respectively, once said interchangeable cassette has been moved intosaid end position; and coupling said second casing half to said firstcasing half.
 26. A method according to claim 25, wherein locking meansare provided on said first casing half spaced from said applicator stripto engage said interchangeable cassette and to hold said interchangeablecassette in said loaded position.
 27. A method according to claim 23,wherein: first and second bearing sleeves are provided in said casing;and moving said interchangeable cassette further comprises moving saidinterchangeable cassette into engagement with said first and secondbearing sleeves.